Although Utah's population is the youngest in the Nation, Utah lacks Millennial representation in Government. The Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) is working to change this.

 

Why are Millennials Important?

Millennials are the largest-ever generation. We are also the largest voting block in the State of Utah. Unfortunately, only 11% of our generation votes in Utah—far below the 30% of our peers that voted nationwide in 2012. Additionally, less than 2% of federal-level elected officials are Millennials. Extremely low voter participation and underwhelming public service is crippling our ability to contribute to the greater community both civically and politically.

 

The Mission of ELI

The ELI is built on the principle that effectively mentoring current and future generations of “emerging leaders” can improve Utah's communities and quality of life. By creating a space for collaborative mentorship and communication between current and emerging leaders, ELI seeks to empower the Millennial generation (and future generations) to join in policy discussions and help shape Utah's political, cultural, and economic future. mn

 

Our goal is to increase participation of our generation and future generations in the policy debates of our time. We need younger voices to speak up, to vote, to run for office, and to engage their government. With the involvement of bright and innovative minds in our generation, government decisions will be more deliberative and meaningful.